Nicolas Pepe has accepted his departure from Arsenal and the impact of his transfer fee on perceptions of his performances, though he admits “it wasn’t easy.”
The £72m fee Arsenal paid to bring the Ivory Coast international from Lille often overshadowed his time at the club Xoi Lac TV.
“It wasn’t easy at all. And the fans were unhappy with my performances,” the now 29-year-old told BBC Sport.
“When I first joined the team, the fans didn’t really appreciate my abilities, they only paid attention to my transfer price. However, I believe I did some great things at Arsenal and don’t regret my time there.
“But since my transfer fee was the highest the club had ever paid, there were expectations for me to score in every match.”
Arsenal signed Pepe in 2019 following a standout season with Lille, where he netted 23 goals and provided 12 assists. However, he never replicated that scoring form in England.
After playing his final game for Arsenal in 2022, Pepe spent a season on loan at Nice. After leaving Turkish club Trabzonspor in the summer, he did not join any other club until joining Arsenal in September.
“If Arsenal had bought me for £20m, maybe things would have been different.”
Pepe’s childhood dream was to join Arsenal, inspired by a Thierry Henry shirt gifted to him by his brother.
Despite this, he recorded 24 goals and 15 assists in 91 appearances during his first two seasons in English football. He feels the label of ‘flop’ is mainly due to the high fee Arsenal paid in 2019.
“If Arsenal club bought me for 20 million dollars, maybe things would be different than they are now,” he said. “It’s not the player’s fault.
“Players don’t set their own transfer fees. That’s just how football works, and it’s something people struggle to understand.
“There are also players like [Mykhailo] Mudryk and Antony who don’t always perform at their best, yet they’re still considered good players.”
Arteta didn’t fully trust me
Despite his challenging stint at the Emirates Stadium, Pepe expresses gratitude for how his exit in 2023 was managed and maintains respect for manager Mikel Arteta.
“They supported me during my departure, which was difficult due to my injury and the recovery process… they helped me secure a new club quickly,” he explained. “So, I definitely left on good terms.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Arteta. It’s just that he didn’t have full confidence in me, which is unfortunate.”
“He built a winning team, and unfortunately, I wasn’t part of that group. However, I respect him, and I know he respects me too. I wish him all the best.”
Pepe now believes that the challenging period has made him mentally stronger 7m.
“Although playing football at Arsenal club is subject to a lot of pressure from the coaching staff as well as the fans, I am currently having a quite comfortable time at the team,” he said.
“I’ve learned not to focus on criticism. When you face a lot of it, you develop thick skin. So now, I’m ready for anything and feel like I’m in a great mental state.”
“I also never said that I would not play football for the English national team”
However, regaining full physical fitness is essential for him, particularly after injury setbacks at Nice and Trabzonspor.
“Up to now, it has been 2 years since the last time I participated in the tournament. I feel great starting one now and am in good shape. I need this to get back to my previous speed.”
Pepe looked hopeful following a discussion with his agency about his future. He anticipates sharing news about his next club soon and is open to a potential return to English football to confront his critics.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” he said. “At this tournament, I’m considered experienced, it’s just that I’m older than the younger players. But I can absolutely match my previous performances.
“I just need to play according to my physical state, the confidence of the club, and the support from the fans. It’s all about balancing those factors.”
“A player who scores a goal needs many factors, in addition to having an excellent coach, he also requires a professional playing and coaching environment, especially receiving enthusiastic support from fans. Those elements are crucial for a player’s success.”
He continued: “If an offer isn’t serious, I won’t hear about it. We’ll see what unfolds, but I’m not excluding a return to England.”
